Synchronizing device for musical instruments or other apparatus



May 13, 1930. i E, AUBRY ET AL SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Jan '24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet May 13, 1930. E, AUBRY ET AL 1,758,776

vSYNCIHRONIZING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 13, 1930. E, AUBRY ET AL 1,758,776

SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 7 May 13, 1930. 7 E. AUBRY ET AL 1,758,776

SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTBUMENIS OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n urns;

Patented May 13, 1939 STATES i hepreseiitinventionrelates to a device intended for .synchrbmZmg with. one another several apparatus,. more particularly musical instruments driven mechanically, pneumati- {35 pallyprelectricallyfihe operation of which is controlled ,by sheets or rolls of perforated .p 'P -J= 1 a Nil- 1: 5. l

v in This device ischaracterized by the fact that speeialperforations,v formed in the sheets or do rolls ofperforated papergdetermining. the operation, of: the different} apparatus,- act upon relaysor-intermediate members, which control contacts; arranged in such a manner that when synchronisn ,i'sbroken between one of the apparatus, regarded asa conductor appa- .a wayvas to-restore synchronism.-

For example these special perforation control,;by .means of tracker bars, sets of diaphragm relays or .valves, corresponding to the conductor apparatus and to eachof the conducted apparatus, and actuating in their turn electrical contacts included in the circuits ofthe means for regulating the speed ofthje motors driving the corresponding conducted apparatus, the valves corresponding I to eachapparatus conducted being arranged in such a way as, to act in an opposite sense to the valvecorresponding to the conductor apparatus, so as to close the circuit of the regulating means only when there is not synchronism between the conducted apparatus in question and the conductor apparatus.

The motor driving the conductor apparatus is adjusted to the desired speed and the motors of the .conducted apparatus are ad- 4 justed to a slightly higher speed, and the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving each of these conducted apparatus consists of an electromagnetic brake acting upon the shaft of this motor and included in a circuit controlled by the contacts actuatedby the valves corresponding to the conductor apparatus and the valves corresponding to the conducted apparatus in question, in such a way as to retard the movement of this conducted apparatus when there is not synchro- Parana" rum, or rams, Ann seamen non-names vsns'arprns, runner:

SYNGH RONI ZING DEVICE I EOB. MUSICAL IJSSTRUMENTS OR- OTHER APPARATUS Application filed January 2a, 1928, Serial No.:249,136, and in France January 27, 1927.

nism. between. the latter and the conductor apparatus.

Preferably the special perforations, in the sheets or rolls of perforated paper controlling the operation of each of the apparatus to be synchronized, are constituted by series of perforations of identical length each comprising a number of perforations equal to the number of the relay valves to be actuated, the

corresponding. perforations of the different series being arranged in alignment in such ,a way as to pass in front of the same holes n the tracker bar and at the same distance from one another, while the adjacent perforations ofeachseries are offset longitudinally elevation respectively of this roll of paper passing in front of the tracker bar, constituting the controlling means for the mechanism of the apparatus to be synchronized.

Figure 4 is a view in section of a set of pneumatic relays or valves controlled by the special perforations of one of the appawhere a plurality of conducted apparatuses are to be synchronized with a conductor.

As represented in Figure 1, the roll of perforated paper P, controlling the operation of one of the apparatus to be synchronized, comprises special perforations arranged near one of the edges of the sheet of paper; these perforations, which are all of the same length, are arranged in series of three holes a b 0, a b c, a b'. 0"; the corresponding perforations in the different series (a a a b b b, c c c) are arranged in alignment in such a way as to pass over the same holes in the tracker bar; they are likewise situated at the same distance apart.

'Moreover, in each series of perforations, the perforations are offset longitudinall by a-distance equal to the length of the per orations. It follows that at the moment when anyone of these special perforations leaves the correspondin hole in the tracker bar, the nextperforation of the series'or of the following series begins to uncover another hole in this same tracker bar. The length of these perforations, or distance d between suc- 'cessive perforations, depends upon the accuracy to be obtained in the synchronization; if for example, the roll travels at a speed of 2.7 m. per minute, that 1545 mm. per second,

andif it is desired to attain an accuracy of the order of 1/15th of a second, the perforations will have a length of 3 mm.

When the roll of perforated paper P unwinds (Figures 2 and 3), these special perforations pass overthe corresponding special holes 1,2, 3, formed in the tracker bar; these holes are of number equal to that of the perforations in each series, that is to say to the number of three in the example considered; the perforations a a a will pass over the hole 1, the perforations b b I) over the hole 2, and the perforations 0 e 0 over the hole 3. Each of these supplementary holes in the tracker bar is connected by a tube to a pneumatic relay which will be designated in the present description under the name of valve, by analogy with the pneumatic valves employed in pneumatic musical instruments.

The set of these relays or pneumatic valves S S S corresponding to the conductor apparatus is represented in Figure 4; each of the valves in this set is of the same construction. A light diaphragm e divides the internal capacity delimited by the valve box into two chambers; the upper chamber which communicates through the tube k with the corresponding hole in the tracker bar F, and through the hole 9, provided with a capillary orifice with the bellows or other apparatus S producing suction; the lower chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the hole It. To the diaphragm e is fixed a small pad 6 attached to a metal rod e carrying a member 6 intended to come into contact with a screw i passing through the bottom of the valve box. The metal rod (2 passes through a hole. formed in a metal plate j which is connected electrically by a conductor j to the rod 6 and which carries outside the valve a terminal j*. A conductive metal plate 2' carrying a terminal 2' supports the screws z' corresponding to the valves S S S of the conductor apparatus set. When the holes (1, 2, 3) of the tracker bar Fare not uncovered by the special perforations in the paper roll P, the diaphragm e is lifted in each valve S S S for it is subjected upon its upper face to the suction in the bellows S, whereas the atmospheric pressure makes itself felt upon its lower face through the orifice h; in these conditions contact is interrupted between the screw i and the member 6 On the other hand when a hole (1 or 2 or 3) ratus, to be synchronized with the first, comprises likewise a set of valves 8 s s (Figure 5) which are arranged in an inverse manner to the foregoing. The diaphragm Z is likewise connected by the intermediary of a pad Z and a metal rod Z to a contact member 1 but this rod Z passes through a contact blade 11. adjustable in position by means of a screw 71.. Contact is established between member Z and blade a when the diaphragm l occupies its raised position, that is to say when the corresponding" hole in the tracker bar F corresponding to this conducted apparatus is closed, that is to say when. the suction at the bellows 8 corresponding to this conducted apparatus makes itself felt upon the upper face of the diaphragm Z, while the lower face of the latter is subjected to the atmospheric pressure.

In each of the valves 3 :6 the metal rod Z passes through a conductive plate 0, which is connected electrically by the conductor 0 to this rod Z and which carries outside the valve a terminal 0 is fixed. upon a conductive plate 71, carrying the adjusting screws n of the contact blades n.

In the general View represented in Figure 3, M designates the pneumatic (or electric) motor driving the roll of perforated paper P of the conductor apparatus (on the right of the figure) the special perforations in this roll P, passing in front of the corresponding Another terminal 70 holes of the tracker bar F, control the valves S S S m designates the pneumatic (or electric) motor driving the roll of perforated paper 19 of the. conducted apparatus (on the left of the figure) to be synchronized with the former; the special perforations of this roll I) passin in front of the corresponding holes of the tracker bar 7 control the valves 8 8 8 The shaft of this motor m is connected by a speed reducing gear 122 m m to a wheel 1", which may be braked by a shoe u carried by the armature a of an electromagnet 6, arranged in a circuit controlled by the contacts of the valves S S S 8 8 8 As represented in Figure 6, conductors connect together in pairs the terminals j 0 that to say the contact members 8 Z belonging respectively to the valves S and 8 S and 8 S and on the other hand, the terminal 2' (that is to say the contact screws 2' of the valves S S as well asthe terminal a (that to say the contact blades n of the valves 8 8 8 are connected to the exciting coil of the electromagnet 25.

When synchronisn'i is established between the conductor apparatus and the conducted apparatus, and when the special perforations of the rolls P and p corresponding to these apparatus pass at the same time in front of the holes in the corresponding tracker bars F and f, contact is closed between the contact members a" and i of the valves S S S corresponding to the hole uncovered in the tracker ha r F, in the set of valves of the conductor apparatus; on the other hand, contact is broken between the members Z and n of the valves 8 s a corresponding to the uncovered hole in the tracker bar f, in the set of valves :1 s of the conducted apparatus. It follows then that the exciting circuit of the electroi'nagnet t is not closed and that there is no braking of the motor in of the conducted apparatus.

The motor on driving the roll p of this conducted apparatus is adjusted to run at a speed sli 'htly greater than that of the motor M of the conductor apparatus; hence the movement of the roll p of this conducted apparatus tends to accelerate. In these conditions, at a given moment, one of the supplementary holes in the tracker bar F of the conductor apparatus will be uncovered by a special perforation in the roll P, whereas the corresponding hole in the tracker bar 7 of the conducted apparatus will be already covered again by the roll 79. Contact will therefore be established at the same time between the members 6 and i of the corresponding valve of the set belonging to the conductor apparatus, and between the members Z and n of the corresponding valve of the set belonging to the conducted apparatus. The electromagnet t will be excited and will attract its armature a so that the brake shoe u will brake the wheel 1" and the motor m will tend to be stopped until the moment when the two corresponding special perforations in the rolls P and p of the conductor apparatus and conducted apparatus pass together in front of the supplementary holes of the tracker bars F and There will therefore be a succession of brake actions, the rapidity and the closeness of which are such that there is es tablished, for the motor 172 driving the roll 22 of the conducted apparatus, a working speed lower than that which this motor m would assume if it were not synchronized, but which is equal to that of the motor M of the conductor apparatus, which is adjusted in such a Way as to obtain the performance of the piece of music at the desired tempo.

In the case where there are several conducted apparatus to be synchronized. with one conductor apparatus, the arrangement will be the same as shown in Figure 7 the circuits of the electromagnetic brakes a acting upon the motors m of the conducted apparatus will be mounted in parallel; the exciting coil of each electromagnet 25 will be connected on the one hand to the terminal 71* connected to one of the contact members of each of the valves of the set of valves S S S of the conductor apparatus and on the other hand to the terminal n? connected to one of the contact members of each of the valves s 8 s of the set of the conducted apparatus considered. The other terminals 0 that is to say, the second cont-act members of the corresponding valves of the two sets of valves S S S and s s 8 of the conductor and conducted apparatus, will be con nected in pairs, as represented in Figure 7.

It is to be understood that this form of carrying out the invention has been given only by way of example and that without departing from the scope of the appended claims,-there may he applied thereto a large number of detail modifications.

hat we claim is 1. A synchronizing device for musical instruments and other apparatus controlled by a perforated sheet, said device comprising a conductor apparatus, a motor driving the same, a number of conducted apparatus, a motor driving each of said conducted apparatus, means for regulating the running speed of each said last mentioned motors, a set of pneumatically operated relay means for the conductor apparatus and each of the conducted apparatus, a tracker bar associated with each of said. conductor and conducted apparatus, a perforated sheet'associatcd with each tracker bar and provided, in addition to the usual perforations controlling the operation of the respective apparatus, with auxiliary perforations adapted to cooperate with the respective tracker bar to actuate the said relay means, and to control thereby the speed regulating means ofeach of the motors driving the respective conducted apparatus, for the purpose described.

2. A synchronizing device for musical instruments and other apparatus controlled by a perforated sheet, said device comprising a conductor apparatus, a motor driving the same, a number of conducted apparatus, a motor driving each of said conducted appa ratus, electrical means for regulating the running speed of each said last mentioned 1no tors, a set of pneumatically operated relay means for the conductor apparatus and each of the conducted apparatus, a tracker bar associated with each of said conductor and conducted apparatus, a perforated sheet associated with each tracker bar and provided, in addition to the usual perforations controlling the operation of the respective apparatus, with auxiliary perforations adapted to cooperate with the respective tracker bar to actuate the said relay means, and to control thereby the speed regulating means of each of the motors driving the respective conducted apparatus, each of the relay means comprising contact members, connected in the electrical circuit of the electrical regulating means of the running speed of the motor driving the respective conducted apparatus, for the purpose described.

3. A synchronizing device for musical. instruments and other apparatus controlled. by a perforated sheet, said device comprising a conductor apparatus, a motor driving the same, a number of conducted apparatus, a motor driving each of said conducted apparatus, electrical means for regulating the running speed of each said last mentioned motors, a set of pneumatically operated relay means for the conductor apparatus and each of the conducted apparatus, a tracker bar associated with each of said conductor and conducted apparatus, a perforated sheet associated with each tracker bar and provided, in addition to the usual perforations controlling the operation of the respective apparatus, with auxiliary perforations adapted to cooperate with the respective tracker bar to actuate the said relay means, a pair of contact members adapted to be actuated by each of said relay means, the contact members of the conductor apparatus and of each of the conducted apparatus being connected in the electrical circuit of the electrical rcgulating means of the running speed of the motor driving the respective conducted apparatus, the relay means associated with the conductor apparatus being adapted to actuate its contact members in opposite sense to the relay means of each of the conducted apparatus, and thereby to control the electrical means regulating the running speed of the motor driving the respective conducted apparatus, for the purpose described.

4. A synchronizing device for musical instruments and other apparatus controlled by a perforated sheet, said device comprising a conductor apparatus, a motor driving the same at the desired speed, a number of conducted apparatus, a motor driving each of said conducted apparatus at a slight y greater speed than the conductor appa *atus, electro magnetic braking means for each of said last mentioned motors driving the respective conducted apparatus, a set of pneumatically operated relay means for the conductor apparatus and for each of the conducted apparatus. a tracker bar associated with each of said conductor and conducted apparatus, a perforated sheet associated. with each tracker bar and provided, in addition to the usual perforations controlling the operation of the respective apparatus, with auxiliary perforations adapted to cooperate with the respective tracker bar to actuate the said relay means, each of the relay means comprising contact members, connected in the electrical circuit of the electromagnetic braking means associated with the motor driving each conducted apparatus, for the purpose described.

5. A synchronizing device for musical instruments and other apparatus controlled by a perforated sheet, said device comprising a conductor apparatus, a motor driving the same, a number of conducted apparatus, a motor driving each of said conducted apparatus, means for regulating the running speed of each of said last mentioned motors, a set of pneumatically operated relay means for the conductor apparatus and each of the conducted apparatus, a tracker bar associated with each of said conductor and conducted apparatus, a perforated sheet associated with each tracker bar and provided, in addition to the usual perforations controlling the operation of the respective apparatus, with auxiliary perforations adapted to cooperate with the respective tracker bar to actuate the said relay means, and to control thereby the speed regulating means of each oft-he motors driving the respective conducted apparatus, said auxiliary perforations comprising series of perforations, of the same length, in a number equal to the number of relay means to be actuated, the corresponding perforations of the different series being arranged in alignment in such a way as to pass in front of the same holes of the tracker bar, and at the same distance from one another, whilst the adjacent perforations of each series are oilset longitudinally in relation to one another by the length of these perforations, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

EMILE AUBRY. GABRIEL BOREAU. 

